The Simpsons Hit and Run

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By Steve Butts

It's a fact: You can't work at IGN without being a huge fan of The Simpsons. And it's also a fact that none of the Simpsons games so far have been worth their weight in flat meat. Thankfully, this latest Simpsons game, from Radical and Vivendi seems to break this curse by offering up a title that maintains continuity with the license and presents a game model that's enjoyable enough to justify our interest. If you needed further proof of the worth of the game, consider why it's the only of the recent Simpsons titles to make its way to the PC.

The Simpsons Hit and Run follows the tradition of lesser Simpsons games in that it takes a gaming model already popularized by other titles and liberally slathers a generous helping of Simpsons style all over it. In this case Rockstar's megahit Grand Theft Auto serves as the basis for the gameplay. A series of missions allows the players to experience a fairly involved story, beginning first with Homer before moving on to play as Bart, Lisa, Marge and Apu. In fine Grand Theft Auto tradition, there are numerous side missions to be found around Springfield and plenty of secrets for those who can find their way to the game's more inaccessible areas.

Concerned parents needn't worry as the more gratuitous action of Grand Theft Auto has been scaled back a bit, but there's still plenty of carnage and crashing to be found here. There are no weapons, for instance. Character attacks are limited to simply kicks (and the occasional hit and run, natch) so you won't be torching the power plant employees with your trusty flamethrower or clearing the lines at the Googleplex with a deadly chaingun. As with Grand Theft Auto, there are consequences for recklessness. A handy meter lets you see how concerned Springfield's finest are about your actions. Run over too many pedestrians or crush too many mailboxes and the cops will start hunting you down with a vengeance.

Since Grand Theft Auto is a franchise we're already quite familiar with, what makes the game initially so compelling is the brilliant use of the license. The project was overseen by Matt Groening and the Gracie Films crew and the fidelity of nearly every aspect of the game is simply overwhelming. With a cast and continuity as large and complex as that of The Simpsons, consistency is a hard target to hit. Thankfully, with the exception of Bart and Lisa driving around town, very little in The Simpsons Hit and Run seems at all out of place with the show.

The overall story involves finding mechanical bees equipped with security cameras. It's a bit out of place and clearly stands out as a gimmick included for the sake of the game. Thankfully the overall conspiracy behind these bees and their presence in Springfield is tied in with more palatable story elements but for the most part, they only serve to remind you that you're playing a game.

Weirdly, the dialogue itself also continues to remind you that you're playing a game. From the start of the tutorial, the characters make frequent asides that reveal they're aware that they are in a game. This self-awareness helps to increase the humor of the game as the characters mock the very activities you're asked to take part in. In all, it's a lot like the hip cynicism of Rocky and Bullwinkle and the wall between the characters and player is acknowledged with just the right tone and balance.

Rather than presenting a single city for the player to roam in, Hit and Run divides Springfield up into a few distinct, separate areas. Each character has their own stomping ground here and since the geography of the show is intentionally indistinct, I'm really surprised that the developers managed to put the various buildings together in a believable way. The Krusty Burger is next to the Noiseland Arcade which is next to the Android's Dungeon. Fat Tony's Legitimate Businessmens' Social Club is down the street from Moe's Bar. These touches really bring the world of Springfield to life and you'll start to get a sense of where things are in relation to each other as you drive through the levels.